[graves]

Originally Posted by starfall

{I sowy it's so late ;v; }

The warrior simply listened to his apprentice cry his heart out, he didn't say any soothing words, he didn't try and sweetly lie to the Tom, tell him that everything was going to be okay, that his life would go back to normal. No. He simply stood there and let his apprentice weep, he let him let all of his emotions out, cry to his hearts content. He understood what Mudpaw was going trough, he could Empathize with him, and that's what made his heart ache, his soul quiver. An apprentice shouldn't go through such things, he shouldn't be feeling such raw emotions this soon. Most would argue that love was the best thing Starclan enabled them to do, he believed that, but at the same time, he also knew it was a curse. One was both warm as well as cold, and he didn't like the fact that his apprentice has already experienced the cold part of the warm emotion. The Tom wrapped his tail around the other and pulled him closer, trying his hardest to comfort the Tom, at this point the both of them were weeping. "Mudpaw, I am truly sorry, but I will say this. I am happy you're alive now, I'm glad that you're here with me, and I bet redpaw is too, I bet he's thinking the same thing. I bet he's happy that you've lived, that you're still breathing." he said, his voice wavered he didn't know what it was like to see your loves limp body, bleeding, lifeless, just a few mouse lengths away from you, and in all honesty he didn't want to imagine his beloved dead. He tightly shut his eyes and pulled the apprentice as close as possible, and hugged him as tightly as possible without hurting him, he wanted to believe that he could just squeeze the negative emotions out of his apprentice.

When Mudpaw pulled back Sleepingcloud was still teary, a few streaks fell down his cheeks, his sky blue hues were glossy and filled with joy and amusement, he needed that, they both needed that. Upon the apprentices apology he laughed loudly, his booming laughter echoed within the training moor, he didn't care for the way he looked, he cared for the way he felt, for the way others felt "That's quite alright I don't mind none." he purred, he had already grown attached the the younger Tom, almost as though he believed he was his son, his and Juniperlights son, and he liked that idea, he liked that idea a lot. He looked down at his chest fur and chuckled "Believe you me, I've gotten much, much worse sticking to my fur." he laughed, his whiskers quivered as he thought of an idea "And besides, we could always go and romp in the stream later on." he stated as he suppressed a shiver, it was almost the end of Leaf-bare, which meant that the streams were thawing, but they were sill freezing cold, and he didn't really like that idea whatsoever. He saw his apprentice look down at his paws and he heard him apologize, he blinked and looked at the younger Tom for a few moments before picking himself up, padding over there, and licking the mottled brown toms forehead "Bah, it's alright, we're not worrying about my problems at the moment, we're trying to solve yours." he purred. He then backed up and grinned "Like your fighting problem, let me show you some solutions. Attack me with all you've got" he stated, yeah he knew that they just got over bawling their eyes out, but he cared for Mudpaws future, he wanted to make sure Redpaw didn't give up his life in vain. He was pretty positive that his apprentices love didn't want to see him again in the stars, that's not what mates wish for. No, he'd make sure Mudpaw survives any future battles, but that may also be because of his own selfish reasons.

It was going to take time to heal. It was going to take time to not think about him,to not think of his dead body laying in the middle of camp last night. The leader had offered him to take a break from training,he was offered a time to mourn and he refused it-he wanted to stay busy. He didn't want to cry,he didn't want to seem weak. He didn't like how he was letting it affect his training with Sleepingcloud. He greatly appreciated the warrior though,and would keep his words in mind. He didn't have a lot of family,his brother and sister off doing starclan knows what and not talking to him anymore. He was on his own,no parents or even a parental figure to look up to. He felt lonely,but he felt different when with Sleepingcloud. It felt,,,safe. He knew that because even of the simplest joke about his pelt he cracked a small small as he sniffled a bit. "I don't think I want to know whats in your pelt,or how cold the river is." he gave a quiet chuckle. He appreciated his mentors efforts to cheer him up,and it was slightly working. It was a distraction,to say the least which is what he needed. His ears perked when his mentor said 'fight me with all you got' he'd give him all he's got. For Redpaw. His exterior changed,his ears were perked and his eyes were blown out in concentration now. He wanted to stop crying,and start working. His claws would be sheathed of course,and he wouldn't use his teeth. He jumped up so he was infront of his mentor,yellow hues glaring at him. He jumped to the left side of him but only for a brief moment in order to confuse him,jumping to his right side quickly after,and turning his body to try to aim a blow with his paw on his mentors rib.